The COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020: Saluting the Black Church’s Response to the Coronavirus from 2020 through 2025:

THE BLACK PANDEMIC: Honoring the Resilience and Leadership of the Black Community During the Coronavirus Pandemic from 2020 to 2025.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - In March 2020, the world was thrust into unprecedented chaos as the coronavirus pandemic swept across communities, claiming lives, disrupting economies, and revealing deep systemic inequities. In the face of uncertainty, the Black community of Fort Worth, Texas, led by faith leaders like Pastor Kyev Tatum of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, rose to the occasion with determination, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serve the most vulnerable.

Pastor Tatum spearheaded one of the most effective emergency response initiatives through the New Mount Rose Redemption Bowl, ensuring that children, seniors, and underserved families had access to food, accurate information, and resources during a time of widespread fear and confusion. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram lauded these efforts, declaring that Black leaders provided the most impactful leadership during the crisis.

A Hunger for Help

When schools closed, leaving thousands of children without access to daily meals, the need for immediate action became clear. Over 82,000 children in the Fort Worth Independent School District depended on free lunches. Families were suddenly faced with the grim reality of hunger, compounded by inadequate government plans. Faith leaders like Pastor Tatum and others from the Faith and Community Leaders United network took swift action, organizing food distribution efforts and advocating for better support for vulnerable populations.

We must ensure that every child is fed at least twice a day, Pastor Tatum emphasized during a press conference. With the help of local churches, volunteers, and organizations like the Tarrant Area Food Bank, meals were provided to thousands of families, demonstrating the power of collective action.

Standing Strong in Leadership

While governmental messaging wavered, Fort Worth’s African American leaders delivered clarity and urgency. County Commissioner Roy Brooks, a cancer survivor, was among the first to call for stay-at-home orders. Despite personal risks, he joined virtual meetings and outdoor gatherings to emphasize the importance of social distancing. Similarly, U.S. Representative Marc Veasey and Councilwomen Kelly Allen Gray and Gyna M. Bivens used social media to educate, comfort, and warn their constituents.

Faith leaders led by example, holding virtual church services and advocating against premature reopening of businesses and places of worship. Pastor William T. Glynn, standing masked and distanced in a church parking lot alongside other pastors, declared, We have a moral responsibility to keep our people safe and healthy.”

Pastor Tatum echoed this sentiment: “We know some worshippers may have the virus and others may be asymptomatic. It’s just not safe.

A Legacy of Service

The efforts of Fort Worth’s Black pastors and community leaders during the pandemic underscored the enduring role of the Black Church as a cornerstone of resilience and support in times of crisis. From providing meals to offering spiritual guidance, these leaders filled critical gaps left by governmental failures.

As we commemorate the 5th anniversary of the pandemic, let us honor the courage, leadership, and unity that emerged from Fort Worth’s Black community. Their work reminds us that even in the darkest times, compassion and solidarity can light the way forward.

The legacy of the 2020 pandemic is not just one of loss but also of extraordinary resilience. When history looks back, it will remember the Black leaders of Fort Worth who spoke boldly, acted selflessly, and led their community through one of the most challenging chapters of our time.